BRAZIL: TCU carries out biodiversity audit
In September of 2006, Brazil's Court of Audit (TCU) approved the report of a performance audit which was carried out to verify actions by the Brazilian government to protect biodiversity. The audit focused on supervision and control activities of the country’s borders, with the objective of restraining withdrawal from the country, without authorization from the Brazilian government, of species and genetic material for research and product development derived from biodiversity. The Audit also addressed activities to protect local biodiversity, since the entry of exotic species in the country is uncontrolled.
As a result of the audit, the TCU made recommendations to the Government to improve the supervision and control systems of the borders, and to stimulate the development of national biodiversity research. In order to guarantee the effectiveness of the work done, the TCU will monitor the implementation of the recommendations made to the many Public Agencies involved.
For additional informationon about this audit, contact Omir José Lavinas, Head of the TCU International Relations Office, at arint@tcu.gov.br
CAMEROON: New section created on environmental auditing
The Supreme State Audit Office of Cameroon has recently created a section responsible for environmental auditing. This environmental audit section has just drawn up an action plan covering a period of three years. Its emphasis will be on audits of conservation of ecosystems and on efforts to prevent the harmful effects of human activity on biodiversity. Other priority areas concern water management and the processing of waste. To fulfill its plan, the Supreme State Audit Office of Cameroon is focusing on capacity building in environmental auditing, the preparation of an environmental audit code of procedure, and the execution of environmental audits.
CANADA: A seminal report on climate change garners widespread attention
The Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD) in the Office of the Auditor General of Canada tabled a report in September 2006 that addressed the Government of Canada's performance against its climate change commitments. Issues covered by the report included governance, expenditure and results management, measures and programs to reduce greenhouse gases emitted during the consumption and production of energy, emissions trading, and adapting to the impacts of climate change. The report included a series of recommendations directed at the federal government that are intended to improve its management of climate change – the government accepted these recommendations.
The report has been well received by Parliament, interested stakeholders, and the public. Three key parliamentary committees are following the issue. Media coverage of the climate change report has been extensive, with more than 500 references in print and broadcast media since tabling. In partnership with a private consulting firm, the Commissioner is hosting a series of speaking events across Canada to share report highlights and perspectives on the way forward. Representatives from the industry, business and environmental communities are using the report’s findings in their ongoing discussions with the federal government.
The report can be viewed on-line: http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/domino/reports.nsf/html/c2006menu_e.html
For more information on the report contact Richard.Arseneault@oag-bvg.gc.ca
CHINA: Achievements from CNAO's audit on environmental protection funds for the Qinghai-Tibet Railway
The CNAO conducted a special audit targeting the environmental protection funds for Qinghai-Tibet Railway in the 3rd quarter of 2005. The section of railway audited runs from Golmud to Tibet at the length of 1142 kilometers. This section is the plateau railway of highest altitude, longest frozen tundra, and harshest natural environment worldwide.
The audit results showed that the Headquarter of Qinghai-Tibet Railway Construction had faithfully applied the principle that “Quality Overwhelms Price,” and allocated the environmental protection funds in a timely manner. Therefore, the utilization and management of these funds were sound, and no serious irregularity concerning use of the funds was found throughout the audit.
Since the construction of Qinghai-Tibet Railway was operated in the special natural environment and without previous experiences, there were some areas for further improvement in terms of environmental protection. For example, the recovery cost of some temporary facilities was not listed separately, and the transfer and maintenance of some temporary facilities and equipment were not quite standardized. The CNAO's Audit Report about Environmental Protection Funds for Qinghai-Tibet Railway submitted to the State Council got the written instruction from top management of the State Council, which asked the Ministry of Railway to carefully summarize experiences and improve relative works. The Ministry of Railway made its position clear that it would sum up the successful experiences relating to environmental protection and funds management of Qinghai-Tibet Railway construction in a true manner, and expand these experiences to other key railway construction projects to promote all-around environmental protection of railway construction. The specific plan was proposed to address issues found during the audit.
CZECH REPUBLIC: State audit office concludes its audit, “Financial Means Provided for the Purpose of Remedying Old Environmental Burdens from the Past”
The Government of the Czech Republic enacted a decision to remedy old environmental burdens financed from the pay-offs of privatization process in 1991. The Government systematically guarantees new owners reimbursement of expenditures made to remedy environmental burdens inflicted before privatization. The maximum amount of this guarantee is connected to the value of privatized property, not to the known or expected environmental damage.
The Czech Republic's state audit office (NKÚ) concluded an audit in December 2005 in which it found that a list of priorities from the standpoint of the greatest burdens and potential further hazard to the environment has not been created, and that no definitive methodology had been created to determine these priorities. NKÚ also drew the Government’s attention to the fact that the management of projects is structured in such a way that initial contract costs will gradually increase. It also cautioned that the present system makes it possible to take advantage of the Government’s guarantees to their full extent without any restrictions (over the framework of the initial project). NKÚ concluded that the total amount of guarantees provided – about 10% of Gross Domestic Product – creates a significant stress on the state budget of the Czech Republic. It recommended that the Government reevaluate guarantees in contracts and to adjust them to the actual projects, environmental aspects, and expected costs.
ESTONIA: National Audit Office audits government efforts to increase use of biofuels
Estonia's National Audit Office audited the government’s activities to increase the share of bio-fuels in the consumption of vehicle fuels and promote the local production of bio-fuels. The Government had not achieved its goal—2 percent bio-fuels of all consumed fuels by the end of 2005. The main reason was conflict among Ministries, none of which accepted the responsibility for the task. The first steps towards improving the situation were taken three months after the audit, when the government appointed the Ministry of Agriculture to coordinate the development of an action plan for increasing the consumption of bio energy.
NETHERLANDS: Joint report published on marine pollution from ships
On 18 October 2006, the Netherlands Court of Audit published the joint report of seven supreme audit institutions that audited marine pollution from ships in 2000-2003. The report is a compilation of audits carried out by the SAIs of Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. The SAIs decided to carry out simultaneous audits of the prevention and combating of marine pollution from ships in 2000. The common denominator in the audits was the MARPOL Treaty, the most important global treaty on the prevention of marine pollution from ships. The Treaty is binding on all seven countries involved in this coordinated audit and on some 130 other countries.
In the audit, the audit institutions examined their countries' performance in preventing and dealing with pollution from ships on the assumption that their countries' ratification of the MARPOL Treaty meant they would consider this an important policy objective. The joint report contains findings on the following four areas: 1) surveys and inspections of ships; 2) waste collection in ports; 3) preparedness for incidents; and 4) dealing with offenders.
For more information, including the English report, see: http://www.rekenkamer.nl/9282400/v/ under Europe, or contact Rogier Zelle r.zelle@rekenkamer.nl
NEW ZEALAND: Implementation of the Sustainable Development Programme of Action
The New Zealand Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) is currently undertaking its first “sustainable development” performance audit. In 2003, the New Zealand government released its Sustainable Development Programme of Action. This document states that sustainable development must be at the core of all government policy, and identifies four areas of focus (freshwater, energy, sustainable cities, and youth). The OAG is looking at the leadership, implementation, and monitoring undertaken by selected agencies responsible for various aspects of the Programme to assess the extent to which the sustainable development programme of action was effectively implemented. The OAG proposes to publish its report in early 2007. New Zealand's Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment is also reviewing progress with sustainable development in New Zealand, focusing on environmental sustainability. The Commissioner's report and the OAG report should be released around the same time.
NORWAY: Parallel audit of fish resources in the Barents Sea
On 24 January 2006, a delegation from the Russian Audit Chamber and representatives of Norway's Office of the Auditor General agreed on the prerequisites for a parallel performance audit of the management of the fish resources in the Barents Sea. The aim of the joint audit is to report on the achievement of goals, as well as on the effectiveness of national implementation of Norwegian-Russian bilateral agreements intended to preserve and rationalise the exploitation of fish resources. Independent audits are being performed in each country, but there are common audit objectives, a common set of audit questions, and common first-order audit criteria.
PERU: Environmental auditing news from the Comptrollership General
Aiming to highlight the importance of the conservation of the rich natural and cultural Peruvian heritage, the Comptrollership General of Peru has published two books which summarise, in a simple language, the outcomes of notable environmental and cultural heritage performance audits. The subjects of the audits are the Santuario Historico de Machupicchu (Historical Machupicchu Shrine) and the Parque Nacional del Manu (Manu National Park), both of which are categorised by the UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. These are the first two of a set of books called “Governmental Control Documents in Environmental Management,” which the Comptrollership General plans to publish.
Also, during the first half of 2006, an Environmental Performance Audit of the Reserva Nacional Pacaya Samira (Pacaya Samira National Reserve) was completed. The natural reserve has an area of more than two million hectares, is the country’s largest reserve, is the second largest of the amazon plains, and is the fourth largest in South America. Its central position in the Peruvian Amazon, as well as its great extension, favour the conservation of representative samples of the tropical rain forest and encourage research of wild fauna and flora (terrestrial and aquatic). The audit’s main observations were related to species conservation and protection; management plans; biodiversity monitoring and surveillance; and habitat supervision and restoration in areas of crude oil activity.
UNITED KINGDOM: NAO evaluates efforts to build and maintain flood defences in England
The United Kingdom Environment Agency estimates that there are some 2.2 million properties in the country at risk of flooding. In 2004, the Government's Chief Scientific Advisor predicted that the cost of flood damage, currently £1.4 billion a year, could reach up to £27 billion over the next 75 years as a result of climate change and increased development.
The United Kingdom National Audit Office (NAO) last examined flood risk management in 2001, reporting then that a significant proportion of flood defence assets (43% percent of structures and 36% of linear defences) were in a condition which the Agency regarded as giving cause for concern. Since then, expenditure on flood risk management as a whole has increased by 99% to £550 million in 2005-06, compared to £275 million in 1999.
The NAO is currently in the middle of a study looking at the cost of flooding to households and businesses, the extent to which flood defence assets are adequately maintained to provide protection from flooding, whether new flood defences are delivering the intended outcomes, and how well the Agency makes decisions about funding for the creation of new defences and the maintenance of existing ones. The NAO expects to produce a report in 2007. For more information contact Marcus Popplewell at marcus.popplewell@nao.gsi.gov.uk
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